Cooper Dual Enrollment Bill Signed by Governor

January 29, 2024

HARRISBURG – Freshman House of Representatives member, Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland), celebrated the enactment of legislation she co-prime sponsored at a bill-signing ceremony today with Gov. Josh Shapiro.

House Bill 1258 improved the law pertaining to dual enrollment programs, which allow high school students to enroll in college-level classes. The law eliminates the requirement that students enrolled in such programs are removed from the school’s average daily membership. Commonly referred to as the “ADM,” the average daily membership impacts state funding to local school districts.

“Programs like these excite students and parents, and schools shouldn’t face a bureaucratic, financial penalty for offering them,” Cooper said. “Too often, we see good ideas fall to the wayside because we couldn’t work through the issues. But we were able to work through this issue and Pennsylvania students are better off for it.”

The subject also had the attention of Rep. Stephen Kinsey (D-Philadelphia). He and Cooper worked together to draft House Bill 1258 and are also co-chairs of the Pennsylvania House Bipartisan “Meet Me in the Middle” Caucus. The purpose of that caucus is to work collaboratively on pieces of legislation that have broad appeal without lawmakers having to stray from their core beliefs on other topics.

“Expanding education opportunities and offering excitement to today’s students that will become tomorrow’s workforce goes beyond partisan politics,” Cooper said. “It was an honor to work with Rep. Kinsey on this bill.”

“School districts should not lose out on funding because their students enroll in one of these courses that propels their academic career while still at the high school,” Kinsey said.

Watch video of the bill signing here.

Watch Representative Cooper's comments here.

Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724-875-8450
jillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper

Will Montgomery, second from left, is a junior at Franklin Regional High School and because of taking advantage of dual enrollment programs, he is on pace to be the third Franklin Regional student to graduate from high school having also earned an associate degree. He is joined by his mother, Kate (left), Rep. Jill Cooper, Gov. Josh Shapiro, Rep. Stephen Kinsey and Rep. Cooper’s legislative aide Debra Wohlin.

Sign Up to Receive Legislative Email Updates

Keep up-to-date on the latest legislative and community news. Your email address will be used strictly for legislative purposes.